Government of Japan grants US $1,173,000 to IOM Sudan for continued assistance to returnees, South Sudanese Refugees, IDPs and host communities

Thursday, March 22, 2018

The Government of Japan has allocated a total of US $1,173,000 in support of the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) operations in Sudan.

The generous contribution of the amount of US$600,000 will go towards supporting the reintegration project in North and South Darfur States, and US $573,000 towards community stabilization as part of the Humanitarian and Development Nexus project in West Kordofan.

Under the reintegration project the funds will enable support to the return and reintegration of internally displace persons (IDPs) and cross border Sudanese returnees from the neighboring countries such as Chad and Central African Republic, to El-Fasher rural area, in North Darfur and Um Dafog locality in South Darfur through improved accesses to basic services, community infrastructures and livelihood activities.

Under the Humanitarian and Development-Nexus project in West Kordofan, the funds will go towards supporting South Sudanese Refugees, IDPs and the host community by enhancing access to basic services whilst restoring the productive capacities of communities and income generation activities. The project aims to bridge the transitional gap between humanitarian and development interventions through a multi-sectorial response including, Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), WASH, health and livelihoods.

The methodology employed under both projects will support a process of dialogue and foster acceptance amongst the different community members. Additionally, the interventions will address the root causes of conflict, increasing ownership of the action through the direct involvement of the community, and enable an environment for community stabilization and social cohesion.

“I believe that these two projects, which aim at strengthening the resilience of the target communities, will contribute to achieving a peaceful Sudan and will help refugees and IDPs live with dignity, as well as enhance their self-reliance”, said H.E. Mr. Shinji Urabayashi, Ambassador of Japan to Sudan. He also mentioned that the above approach “is totally consistent with the concept of “Humanitarian-Development Nexus”, which the government of Japan strongly supports.”

“We warmly welcome this generous support from the people and Government of Japan. We reiterate the importance of this fund in supporting IOM’s objectives towards longer term, sustainable interventions for the benefit of the local host communities, displaced populations, returnees and refugees by strengthening social cohesion, socio-economic development, resilience and self-reliance,” said Mr. Marcello GOLETTI, OIC Chief of Mission.

Note to Editors:

IOM’s global tool for tracking and monitoring of population movement called as Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) registered a total 178,392 IDPS, 239,203 returnees and 78,500 refugees during 2017.This movement was observed during 2016 – 2017 and it is expected to continue in 2018.

The principal function of the Humanitarian-Development Nexus is to link sustainable development, humanitarian action, conflict prevention and peacebuilding.